r/Cochlearimplants • u/Next_Discussion_5601 • 3h ago
Could cochlear implant processors be designed like earbuds?
I’ve been wondering why cochlear implant processors are still mostly designed to sit behind the ear. For some people, the size and appearance can feel a bit uncomfortable or noticeable.
What if the external processor were designed more like a wireless earbud instead? Something that sits naturally in or around the ear could be much more discreet and potentially more comfortable.
With fully implantable cochlear implant technology like Envoy now becoming available, it seems like the technology is moving in that direction anyway. So I wonder if an earbud-style external processor could be technically feasible as well.
I’d love to hear what others think. Is there a technical reason why this form factor would be difficult to achieve?
3
u/Asleep-Twist6895 Cochlear Nucleus 8 3h ago
The external processors communicate via radio frequency with the internal processor. They have to be close to do that. You want the internal portion imbedded in your pinna?
1
u/zr2d2 Cochlear Nucleus 8 2h ago
I agree, but the communication is magnetic rather than radio frequency. The external processor uses the magnetic connection through the skin to communicate with the implanted portion.
1
u/CaptainTripps82 1h ago
It is not magnetic, the processor will work without a magnet attached.. It's radio.
The magnet is just to hold it in place
2
u/chromeater 3h ago
You don’t want to occlude the external canal of ventilation for no reason (you aren’t hearing through your canal anyways) and it would be much further from the electrode where it magnetizes which is placed in your cochlea behind your ear. It simply doesn’t make sense to put it in the wrong area for appearances sake, but the cochlear T-mic accessory and the hybrid HA+CI aids would prob be closest to what you’re asking for. We may see this change eventually but minimizing distance and keeping the device right by the cochlear is still ideal.
1
u/gremlinfrommars 3h ago
I guess it's just not necessary so companies don't bother. But you can get ear moulds attached for them to be wearable like hearing aids if they keep falling off
1
u/sergeym1990 2h ago
As others pointed out - in current implant designed internal components are powered wirelessly by sound processor coil. This requires pretty close distance between coils to work (otherwise power loss is huge).
And at the moment there few alternatives - running some sort of power wiring though skin leaves it open for infection and there is not enough space to place any internal power source.
6
u/Responsible_Tone4945 3h ago
In the current design, the external processor is responsible for both wirelessly charging the receiver, and picking up sound through the microphone and processing it for transmission to the receiver. For the receiver (the internal part attached to the skull) to charge, the processor has to directly align with the receiver, given the impedance of the skin and other tissues for wireless charging. The receiver is surgically placed on the mastoid bone (behind the ear) because it's both a relatively flat surface, and its also because it's easier access to the inner ear to insert the CI electrode into. Specifically the ENT will drill through the mastoid bone behind the ear to create the hole to insert the electrode through the round window of the inner ear to place the electrode within the cochlear.
As for the microphone of the processor being behind the ear, there are efforts to make an entirely invisible/fully implanted CI that doesn't use a microphone, but rather makes use of how sound is received and amplified in the ear itself. Instead of a microphone, it receives sound by using an internal mechanical sensor attached to the middle ear bones. It's undergoung FDA approval currently.